Perhaps the SIM card slot (like the plastic itself with the chip) is one of the most archaic elements of a modern gadget. Much more important modules are made less cumbersome, and we still sometimes cannot move a SIM card from one device to another due to format incompatibility. This article discusses the evolution of SIM cards in the iPhone and iPad.
Regular SIM (Mini-SIM)
Despite the fact that the Micro-SIM format appeared back in 2003, the first three Apple smartphones were equipped with slots for ordinary, or, as they are sometimes called, full-size SIM cards. If you are engaged in literary studies, then this format is officially called Mini-SIM and implies a card size of 25 × 15 × 0.76 mm.
Support:
- iPhone;
- iPhone 3G;
- iPhone 3GS.
Micro-SIM
The most popular format, which is gradually being replaced by nano-SIM cards, has the same chip size as the Mini-SIM, but a much more compact plastic base, overall dimensions are 15 × 12 × 0.76 mm.
Support:
- iPhone 4;
- iPhone 4S;
- First iPad;
- iPad 2;
- iPad (3rd generation)
- iPad (4th generation)
Nano-SIM
In 2012, Apple took another step towards getting rid of useless plastic and reduced the slot in the then new iPhone 5 to the dimensions of a Nano-SIM - 12.3 × 8.8 × 0.67 mm, while still having backward support for previous formats (any SIM can be cut to nano, and nano can be placed in a larger slot if desired).
Support:
- iPhone 5;
- iPhone 5s;
- iPhone 5c;
- iPhone 6;
- iPhone 6 Plus;
- iPhone SE;
- iPhone 6s;
- iPhone 6s Plus;
- iPhone 7;
- iPhone 7 Plus;
- iPhone 8;
- iPhone 8 Plus;
- iPhone X;
- iPhone XS;
- iPhone XS Max;
- iPhone XR;
- iPhone 11;
- iPhone 11 Pro;
- iPhone 11 Pro Max;
- iPad mini and newer;
- iPad Air and newer
- iPad Pro all versions;
- iPad (5th generation) and newer;
Integrated Apple SIM (iPad only)
In 2016, the apple company first released a tablet with a built-in branded Apple SIM (previously it could be used optionally in a regular tray). Apple SIM is not tied to any specific operator, the user can connect to any service provider anywhere in the world simply through the settings menu. At the same time, in parallel with Apple SIM, the tablets from the list below have a regular tray for a Nano-SIM card.
We talked in more detail about the work of Apple SIM and the support of this technology in Russia in this article.
Support:
- iPad Pro 12.9-inch 2nd generation Wi-Fi + Cellular
- 10.5-inch iPad Pro (Wi-Fi + Cellular)
- iPad Pro 9.7-inch (Wi-Fi + Cellular)
After the release of these tablets, Apple switched to using eSIM.
eSIM (virtual SIM)
A gadget with eSIM support does not require a SIM card in its standard sense as a physical object; in fact, it turns into a miniature component on the logic board of a smartphone. At the moment, many large operators already provide full support for the eSIM format.
Support:
- iPhone 11 Pro Max;
- iPhone 11 Pro;
- iPhone 11;
- iPhone XS;
- iPhone XS Max;
- iPhone XR;
- iPad Pro 12.9-inch 3rd generation Wi-Fi + Cellular
- 11-inch iPad Pro (Wi-Fi + Cellular)
- iPad Air 3rd generation (Wi-Fi + Cellular)
- iPad mini 5th generation (Wi-Fi + Cellular)
iPhone dual SIM
Starting with iPhones released in 2018, Apple began equipping smartphones with a tray for two active Nano SIM cards for some regions. Models iPhone 11 Pro Max, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max and iPhone XR with such a novelty specific to Apple have so far been released exclusively to the Asian market (China, Hong Kong), but they may well work in Russia and in other countries of the world with any operators. We wrote in more detail about the two-digit iPhone here.
Support:
- iPhone 11 Pro Max;
- iPhone 11 Pro;
- iPhone 11;
- iPhone XS;
- iPhone XS Max;
- iPhone XR.
See also:
- How to answer an iPhone call (Viber, WhatsApp, Skype) without touching your smartphone.
- How to turn on flash (flashlight) on calls and notifications on iPhone.
- Why are there letters on the iPhone dialer buttons?
